Abstract
In this article I argue that most biases in argumentation and decision-making can and should be counteracted. Although biases can prove beneficial in certain contexts, I contend that they are generally maladaptive and need correction. Yet critical thinking alone seems insufficient to mitigate biases in everyday contexts. I develop a contextualist approach, according to which cognitive debiasing strategies need to be supplemented by extra-psychic devices that rely on social and environmental constraints in order to promote rational reasoning. Finally, I examine several examples of contextual debiasing strategies and show how they can contribute to enhance critical thinking at a cognitive level.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 103-111 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Topoi |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2018 |
Keywords
- Biases
- Contextualism
- Critical thinking
- Debiasing
- Meliorism
- Rationality